Water in rear diff?

[paintslinga2010]

I changed the fluid in my rear diff last year and the fluid looked old but clean. I put new fluid in. Now a year later I am pulling the cover to find milky fluid and surface rust inside the diff. How did water get in here? Could it have come through the leaky axle seal? This has me slightly worried. It looks pretty bad and last year there was no rust at all inside the diff.
Thanks
Jake

[spencer_41188]

if there was no oil leaking out it must have came in threw the vent tube

have you been threw any deep water ie boat drop, mudding, or just a flood if thats what you do for fun put a longer hose on it and run it higher like between the cab and bed or inside the cab.
i'd cheak your trans too if its 4wd cheak your transfer case and front axle also
they all have vents and may have some water in there also

[paintslinga2010]

I had to replace a leaky wheel seal which was my reason for pulling the cover. The surface rust scares me. I hope nothing is too damaged. Can a leaky wheel seal allow that much moisture into the diff?

[andrewmp6]

If you have submerged the axle in water that leaking axle seal could have let water in.